How to Watch Amazon Prime From Anywhere with a VPN in 2024

Abeerah Hashim  - Security Expert
Last updated: January 1, 2024
Read time: 17 minutes
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Want to unblock Amazon Prime outside the US, or maybe you wish to access Prime videos from another country library? A tested-to-work VPN is all you need.

THE TAKEAWAYS

Amazon Prime Video is a fun-filled streaming service from Amazon that provides its customers with quality entertainment without hassle. Given Amazon’s almost-global availability, one would expect its Prime Video service to be accessible worldwide. However, that’s not the case since the service applies geo-restrictions on its content, preventing some users from watching their favorite stuff. A VPN can be a savior here as it allows users to spoof their online location.

As the holiday season begins, you’ll indeed have your watchlist ready with you, isn’t it? Perhaps, your preferred choice would be Amazon Prime to watch your favorite media.

But what if you get an error while streaming despite having a premium subscription? You realize you’re locked out just because you’re not in the location Amazon Prime wants you to be.

Isn’t it frustrating?

It definitely is! But we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to unblock your favorite movie by merely getting your hands on a quality Amazon Prime VPN.

Using VPN to unblock Amazon Prime Instant Video from anywhere: Quick guide

In a rush to watch Amazon Prime abroad? Here’s a quick guide to help you.

  1. Subscribe to a VPN. Like always, a VPN is the key to accessing blocked content as well as for your security. So, you also need a robust VPN for Amazon Prime streaming. Based on extensive tests, ExpressVPN is our number one recommendation here.
  2. Install and set up the VPN on your device. Services like ExpressVPN offer multiple device connections with a single account. So, you can easily download and install the respective VPN apps on all devices you use for streaming.
  3. Head on to Amazon Prime Video. Once you set up the VPN and connect to the right server, you’re now all set to watch your favorite media with thorough online privacy.

A little about Amazon Prime Video

In short, Amazon Prime Video, or just Prime Video, is another streaming service like US-based streaming giant Netflix that widens content streaming choices for users globally.

Amazon Prime VPN

The service primarily started off as a US-only service, “Amazon Unbox,” in 2006. Later on, the service expanded its library, adding up Prime subscriptions. The service also expanded its coverage to the UK and other countries, eventually reaching worldwide by 2016 (excluding Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea).

This worldwide accessibility is the primary reason for Prime Video’s success globally, despite being a paid service. Anyone worldwide can create an account to subscribe to Amazon Prime.

When you sign-up, you initially receive a free online Amazon Prime access (free trial) that lasts for 30 days. After this trial period ends, Amazon automatically renews your subscription by charging the fee from the billing method you shared during account registration.

If anyone doesn’t want to continue an Amazon Prime subscription, the user can easily cancel the subscription anytime.

Why you need a VPN for Amazon Prime unblocking

After reading the above section, you might wonder why to use a VPN with Amazon Prime if it’s available easily.

Before moving on, let’s clarify that a VPN isn’t only a tool for accessing blocked content or spoof locations. Instead, on top of everything, a VPN is a requisite for ensuring online security and safety.

So, enabling a VPN whenever you connect to the internet isn’t a workaround but rather an inevitable security measure.

Clear? Great! Now, let’s explain why you should use a VPN to watch Amazon Prime Video abroad or at home.

To protect your online privacy

Although, using a VPN is essential to maintain your privacy. But, when streaming on Amazon Prime Video, you must pay more attention to your privacy.

Is your VPN safe

It’s because Amazon isn’t merely a streaming service but a marketplace and a giant advertiser. So, you can expect Amazon to collect every possible information about you to build your profile as precisely as possible.

Of course, besides asking yourself, the other strategy to know your likes, dislikes, needs, and preferences is to track what you do online. This tracking isn’t confined to your use of Amazon services. Rather, the tech giant chases you everywhere across the web.

It then monetizes your data by selling your profile to other companies as well.

However, since this tracking is predominantly possible via your IP address, you can easily protect yourself by changing your IP address to a fake one. For this, nothing else would serve you the best except a VPN. It’s because a VPN doesn’t only hide your IP address but also encrypts all your data, thus ruling out all potential web tracking strategies.

Therefore, to prevent this tech giant from spying on you everywhere, you must make sure to use a VPN for Amazon Prime streaming.


To unblock your favorite movies and shows anywhere

The other prominent reason for using a VPN is to bypass all country restrictions and access the Amazon Prime international library on your device.

Confused?

Despite being globally available, Amazon abides by various copyright, licensing, and other content regulations, for which it has to block certain media inside or outside a particular location(s).

Sometimes, it’s because the content creators do not want their media to stream inside or outside a specific region. In other cases, Amazon has to segregate content viewership based on certain countries’ media regulations.

Also, there could as well be many more reasons for the streaming giant to block or unblock a certain movie or TV show in a particular country.

Regardless of the reason, the ultimate sufferer is the end-user who can’t watch the desired media everywhere despite paying for a subscription.

It means that when you travel abroad, from the USA to the Netherlands, you won’t lose access to Prime Video since it is available in both countries.

But, as soon as you sign in to your account and try to resume the streaming of your favorite TV show, you’ll likely get an error because that show won’t be available in your existing location.

That’s where these restrictions frustrate a user. And that’s what a VPN resolves.

Most good VPNs allow you to change your IP location to the most prominent countries in the world. So, if you install and connect to a VPN for Amazon Prime streaming before signing in to your account, you can easily watch your desired media.

For instance, if your favorite show is available to US subscribers only, you can spoof your online location to the USA and watch the US version of Amazon Prime.


Can Amazon block VPN services?

When it comes to using a VPN for Amazon Prime unblocking abroad, users need to remain very careful. It’s because Amazon is one of those few services that actively detect and block VPNs.

Of course, when they have implemented content restrictions, they expect their users to use various methods to evade such geo-restrictions.

Therefore, they aren’t wrong in protecting the integrity of their policies by blocking proxies and VPNs.

So, if you use a VPN that doesn’t support Amazon Prime Video or that isn’t good at bypassing VPN blocks, you’ll likely see many errors while streaming. And the potential solution to removing those errors would be to disconnect your VPN (and make yourself vulnerable to tracking alongside losing access to your favorite movie).

If your VPN claims to unblock Amazon Prime Video abroad, then you should contact its customer support to report the matter.

Otherwise, you may switch your Amazon Prime VPN.

Which is the best VPN for Amazon Prime streaming?

We understand Amazon Prime can block VPNs, then which one should you use to watch Amazon Prime outside the US? We hear you ask.

Don’t worry; below, we list the best Amazon Prime VPNs that bypass all sorts of VPN blocking and provide uninterrupted access to Prime Video anytime anywhere.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN new features block logo 120 by 120 now

One of the few VPN services that have resisted all types of VPN detection and blocks for several years. Hence, it is perfect for streaming aggressive platforms like Amazon Prime.

servers More than 2,900 super-fast servers scattered in 94 countries
encryption Resilient encryption AES-256 bits
protection Strong safety against DNS/IPv6 leaks
P2P optimized servers Servers are P2P optimized
network lock feature Network-lock feature
Trusted servers nord Reliable TrustedServer technology
simultaneous connections Connects five devices at once on one subscription
money-back guarantee 30 days of pay back policy
Pros
  • Unblocks Amazon Prime
  • Fast speeds for streaming and downloading
  • Government-grade encryption
Cons
  • A bit expensive plans

The other name that we recommend as the best Amazon Prime VPN is ExpressVPN.

Regarding streaming, ExpressVPN works great since it has a huge network of over 3000 servers across 94 countries. It means that you can watch your favorite movie, TV show, or sports limited to any part of the world on Prime Video. During our tests, we got fast connection speeds on all of its servers.

Besides, ExpressVPN also warrants utmost anonymity to the users by offering military-grade AES-256-bit encryption and kill-switch. It protects you from web tracking and evades accidental exposure of your IP address to Prime Video. This way, you can enjoy uninterrupted access to your desired media no matter where you go.

The provider has apps for all the popular devices and operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Also, it does not offer a manual installation guide for routers but a router app. Meaning installing a VPN on your router to stream Amazon Prime on any device connected to your WiFi network is a breeze.

If you doubt the feasibility of this Amazon Prime VPN, then you can assess its services by availing yourself of its 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.


2. NordVPN

NordVPN for Streaming

The ultimate top-notch Amazon Prime VPN unblocking your favorite platform library anywhere – thanks to its thousands of servers across 60+ countries.

servers More than 5,000 fast VPN servers scattered across 59 different countries
P2P optimized servers P2P optimized servers
encryption Military-grade encryption (AES-256 bits)
Zero-logs policy No logs retention policy
Quick Connect feature Unique quick connect feature
Kill switch Effective kill switch mode
protection Solid protection for DNS/IPv6 leaks
simultaneous connections Connection six devices simultaneously per account
money-back guarantee Refund policy of 30 days
Pros
  • Unblocks Amazon Prime effortlessly
  • Top-notch security and privacy features
  • User friendly
Cons
  • Some servers lack speed

These guys have made it to our list due to their impressive services and no compromise on user security.

NordVPN has been around for years and openly offers premium support for Prime Video streaming. Therefore, you can trust that you can easily use this VPN for Amazon Prime streaming anywhere.

These service providers have established a huge network of 5400+ servers in 59 countries to support this feature. That means you get plenty of servers to connect and change your online location to your desired country.

Once done, you can enjoy Amazon Prime just like a resident of that country would do. In fact, you open up a lot more libraries as you switch your VPN servers.

Also, NordVPN offers ‘SmartPlay’ – an automatic feature facilitating Prime Video streaming that starts right when you enable your VPN. Whereas its robust security protects you from ISP throttling, thus ensuring a no-lag streaming experience.

The service comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Thus, you don’t have to worry about your money when subscribing to NordVPN. If you aren’t satisfied with its service during the trial period, you can have your money back without hassle.


3. Surfshark

SurfsharkVPN

With fast-speed servers distributed in over 65 countries, Surfshark never fails to stream your favorite Amazon Prime media regardless of your physical location.

servers More than 3,000+ VPN servers in over 60 countries
encryption Robust AES-256-bit encryption
P2P optimized servers Allows P2P downloading
MultiHop mode DoubleVPN feature
protection Strong safety against DNS leaks
Kill switch Kill switch is enable by default
Camouflage mode Camouflage Mode
simultaneous connections No limit for simultaneous devices
money-back guarantee Refund your money within 30 days
Pros
  • Standalone smart DNS proxy
  • Unblocks Amazon Prime
  • Support anonymous payments
Cons
  • Slow connections on some servers

Surfshark supports all major streaming platforms natively. Thus, you can unblock iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, and many more with this VPN.

Of course, you don’t have to worry about the choice of location. Surfshark’s huge network gives you 3200 servers across 65 different countries. That means you can access your desired movie or TV show from 65 different regions without relocating anywhere!

The biggest plus with Surfshark is that it offers unlimited simultaneous device connections to a single account. It means that you can install the respective VPN client on all your devices if you wish to watch Prime Video on your smart TV, your laptop, PC, smartphone, or gaming console.

Besides, it offers all the desirable features that make it the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video streaming without compromising your privacy. These include superior military-grade AES-256-bit encryption, double VPN for top-notch anonymity, whitelisting, camouflage mode, the NoBorders mode to bypass all types of geo-restrictions, and a lot more.

Moreover, Surfshark also comes with the most affordable pricing plans. Thus, it provides you with premium security without blowing your budget.

Still, if you’re hesitant to risk your money, you can try their services and see if it works. Otherwise, their 30-day paid trial with a money-back guarantee is all there to get your money back.


How to choose the best Amazon Prime VPNs?

vpn

After reviewing the list of the best VPNs for Amazon Prime streaming, you might wonder what made us list them here.

Is it because we are an affiliate of these VPNs? We hear you ask.

The answer is no! The reason why we defiantly recommended those three VPNs is that they were the ones that passed our reviewing criteria among the tens of VPNs we tested to unblock Amazon Prime abroad.

Wondering how we assessed those VPNs? Below we quickly describe the key parameters you should evaluate before choosing a VPN for Amazon Prime streaming. Though, if you plan to use a VPN for other purposes as well, then take a look at our detailed guide on choosing the best VPN.

Wide server network

The first thing that you should look for before choosing a VPN is its number of servers. The more servers a VPN has across different locations, the more opportunities you get to unblock the desired library of Amazon Prime Video or any other streaming platform.

Besides streaming options, a large server network means your VPN can evade VPN blocks. Whenever a server faces a block, the VPN quickly connects you to another server in the exact location. Hence, you enjoy uninterrupted streaming.


Fast speed

Most VPN customers often complain about slow connection speeds when streaming with VPNs. That’s because the additional step of data encryption before transmission tends to cause a slight lag in your connectivity. In turn, this lag affects your streaming speed.

However, as an end-user, these technical issues aren’t your headache, right? Of course, if a VPN offers security, it shouldn’t ruin your leisure time, right?

Well, if you choose a reliable VPN, like the ones we listed above, you won’t face this problem. Those VPNs make sure to offer super-fast speeds so that you don’t face any lags, poor video quality, or prolonged buffering times while streaming.

So, double-check that your selected VPN won’t compromise on speed or video quality before deciding.


Multiple simultaneous connections

Today, none of us possesses a single device only. Almost every one of us has more than one device that supports video streaming, be it our smartphones, computers, gaming consoles, or smart TVs. This diversity of gadgets let us watch our favorite movie or sports without hassle.

But, with most VPNs, you lose this choice of devices owing to the limited number of connections offered on a single account. Indeed, this limitation is annoying for avid Prime Video users as your VPN should also respect your convenience. Shouldn’t it?

Thankfully, the credible VPN services of today, like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN, respect your freedom. And so, they offer multiple simultaneous device connections allowing you to unblock Amazon Prime anytime, anywhere.


Robust security and anti-tracking

Perhaps a VPN would fail if it doesn’t offer premium security, right? You not only want your VPN for Amazon Prime to support streaming. Instead, you also need it to protect you from all sorts of tracking, whether from the web trackers or your ISP.

Thus, ensure your chosen VPN offers everything to protect your online identity. Generally, you can look for the availability of features like military-grade encryption, Kill-Switch, no data logging, adblocking, malware protection, anti-tracking, secure VPN protocols, preventing IP leaks, and Smart DNS.


Unblocks Amazon Prime anywhere

Although we have mentioned this point in the last, this is the most important one.

It’s because even if your chosen VPN fulfills all the above criteria, it might still fail when streaming Prime Video. Due to Amazon’s robust VPN and proxy detection policies, many good VPNs fail with Prime Video despite providing otherwise good services. To bypass this detection, a VPN must change its server IPs quickly to avoid detection by the service. And this change must not interrupt your streaming experience.

So, before you invest your money, make sure that your VPN openly offers support for Prime Video streaming, just like the three VPNs we mentioned above.


A step-by-step guide to getting Amazon Prime Instant unblocked with VPN

Now that you know which VPNs you should use and how to choose the best Amazon Prime VPN, let’s begin with how to use a VPN to watch Amazon Prime abroad just the way you used to do when at home.

Don’t be confused since it won’t take you long to set up a VPN for Amazon Prime.

All it takes is a few minutes and a few clicks, after which you can watch your favorite US sport on Amazon Prime outside the US too.

1. Subscribe to your chosen VPN service

We have explained above how to choose the best VPN to unblock Prime Video. So, once you have researched and selected a VPN service provider, subscribe to their service.

For this, you will find the exact steps on the website of your chosen VPN. Generally, the steps include filling in your details as asked, entering your billing details and payment method, and choosing a pricing plan.

In case of any problem during registration, you can always contact their customer support to seek a solution.


2. Download and install the VPN client

After completing the subscription process, you must download the VPN on your device.

You can search and choose the VPN app for your device. In most cases, you will find separate apps for your VPN supporting different devices like Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and more. Download the one according to your device and click the setup to complete the installation process.

Often, you will be redirected to the respective VPN client according to your device. You can also sign in to your VPN on other devices to install it.

Alternatively, you can instead go for the VPN app for routers. This will save you from the hassle of setting up the VPN separately across every device you own.

Doing so will make internet traffic of all the devices on your WiFi network travel through a VPN. Please note, though, this process differs depending on your router’s firmware. For details about this facility, please refer to our guide on installing VPNs on routers.


3. Turn on your VPN connection

After completing the installation, it’s now time to sign in to your VPN client. You should use your VPN account credentials for that.

Once done, you will now see a list of servers from different countries. Connect to the location where your desired media is available.

For example, if you want to stream the Prime Video US library, you should connect to a US server. Likewise, to unblock the UK library anywhere, connect to a UK server.

After the connection establishes, check your VPN for any possible IP leak. If everything looks okay, proceed to the following step.


4. Proceed to stream Amazon Prime Video

Now that you own a new IP address, head on to Prime Video, sign in to your account, and start streaming your desired media from the now-unblocked content library.


What about the VPNs that don’t unblock Amazon Prime?

Most VPNs that face blocks from Amazon Prime Video are free ones.

It’s because these VPNs do not offer superior anonymity as paid VPNs. Also, they fail to implement a thorough evasive protocol. Therefore, they get blocked when they encounter robust tracking measures by Prime Video.

If such VPNs do not possess a huge server network (which they often lack), they are likely to get failed in unblocking Prime Video at your place.

Prime Video’s tracking mechanism is so strong that even some paid VPNs also get blocked.

So, performing thorough research before subscribing to a service is the key to avoiding such VPNs. On top of everything else, check whether the VPN offers dedicated support for Amazon Prime Video streaming. If it does, see if the VPN offers a free or paid trial with a money-back guarantee. If it does, you must subscribe and see if the VPN unblocks Prime Video at your place.

Also, check for customer reviews to see whether that VPN has successfully unblocked Prime Video for other customers.

An alternate method to watch Amazon Prime abroad – Smart DNS

Although, we strongly advise you to stick to a VPN for Amazon Prime Video streaming.

But, if you’re looking for other workarounds, you can use a Smart DNS.

Briefly, a Smart DNS works similarly to a VPN. That is, it reroutes your traffic from its own servers, thereby presenting the IP address from its own servers to the respective service. Since it offers no data encryption, you get the superfast streaming speed with Smart DNS.

However, this workaround often fails with unblocking rigid services like Prime Video, as these services eventually detect your IP spoofing strategy. Thus, they block your access to your chosen media.

So, even if you try this workaround instead of using a VPN, the chances of you getting uninterrupted access for a long are pretty scarce.

Though, if you go with a VPN service that also comes with Smart DNS, like the ones we listed above, rest assured to enjoy no-lag streaming with complete privacy.

Yes. Although doing so may violate Amazon’s terms of service, it won’t make you suffer legal issues. However, make sure that VPNs are legal in your country. Otherwise, you’ll surely land in hot water.

Can I use a VPN for Amazon Prime on Firestick/Fire TV?

Of course, you can. In fact, if you install a VPN on your Firestick, Fire TV, or Fire TV Cube, you can not only unblock Amazon Prime but can also unlock your desired media on all other streaming platforms as well, including Netflix, Hulu, iPlayer, and more.

Sounds great? Check out our guide to setting up a VPN on Firestick/Fire TV to learn the entire installation method.

Though, if you face trouble downloading a VPN on your Firestick, you can jailbreak it to gain explicit access to the device. Check out this guide to jailbreak Firestick to prepare your Fire device for VPN installation.

Conclusion

So, this was all about using the best VPN for Amazon Prime streaming to watch your favorite media anywhere.

Indeed, the variety of content and the easy availability of Prime Video globally has made it one of today’s most desirable streaming platforms. But, their content specifications and geo-restrictions are really annoying for the users, particularly for frequent travelers.

Nonetheless, you have now learned to watch Amazon Prime Video abroad as you do at home. Hence, you no more have to worry about missing your favorite TV show or sports in the middle. Also, your Amazon Prime VPN will protect you from hackers and other risks, such as man-in-the-middle attacks over public WiFi hotspots, while connected to the internet.

We hope our guide will help you unblock your desired movie, TV show, or sport within a few minutes. Yet, if you face troubles, especially with any of our recommended Amazon Prime VPNs (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark), feel free to share your concern via your comments.

FAQs

Almost everywhere. As of December 2016, users can subscribe to and enjoy Amazon Prime live stream in virtually all major countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, including India and Pakistan. While

for the reasons described above. Yet, the service is available and offers premium content to the users.

However, Amazon Prime isn’t available in some countries, precisely North Korea, Cuba, Mainland China, Iran, and Syria.

Technically, you can. But the

. It’s because free VPNs do not offer full anonymity. Hence, Amazon can quickly detect and block these free VPNs.

Not really. Although Amazon clearly

, they usually block access to that suspicious IP address. In contrast, they don’t really ban the users’ accounts.

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About the Author

Abeerah Hashim

Abeerah Hashim

Security Expert
166 Posts

Abeerah is a passionate technology blogger and cybersecurity enthusiast. She yearns to know everything about the latest technology developments. Specifically, she’s crazy about the three C’s; computing, cybersecurity, and communication. When she is not writing, she’s reading about the tech world.

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